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WI Wolf Attack: NRA propaganda to boost gun sales or a cover up of an illegal hunt?

image of a snarling wolf used in the NRA American Hunter Magazine
Here we have a hunter face to face with snarling wolves that he fends off with his Walther PK .380 a hand gun. The NRA American Hunter article by by Jon Draper – Wednesday, September 30, 2015, has all the makings of fictional story spun to sell guns. Or is it a cover up of an illegal hunt?

http://www.waltherarms.com gun used by hunter Oh my what a big gun you have, said the NRA as the hunter defends himself against a wolf attack. yet, there are no witnesses, no body and this sounds more like a cover up of an illegal hunt. After all, WI’s wolves are on the Endangered Species List.

First, we have the hunter From Friendship Wisconsin aproached by snarling wolves and Nellessen immediately pulled his sidearm, a Walther PK .380, and chambered a round. “As the next wolf leapt toward Nellessen, the man jumped back and was able to fire a single round into the animal. Nellessen was unsure of the lethality of the hit, but two wolves immediately retreated for the bush at the sound of the gunshot and the third limped away “like a gut-shot deer,” said Nellessen.”

When the hunter brings in the authorites to investigate they find no dead wolf. They find a blood trail that ends but no body. Where is the body?“The following day, with biologists from the Wisconsin DNR and U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services in tow, Nellessen returned to the scene of the attack, hoping to find a dead wolf. At press time no wolf had been found, but Nellessen said the group did find lots of wolf sign, and a blood trail that ended after roughly 150 yards. “

In the end, the hunter decides he must buy a bigger gun.

“Matthew Nellessen, who says he is now “In the market for a bigger gun,” renewed his NRA membership four days ago.”

I will be following up on this incident with the WDNR and reporting all the details in this on going investigation.

• The DNR and USFWS are investigating a report of an interaction with a wolf in Adams Co. The individual was not attacked and therefore not harmed.

• Since this is an active law enforcement investigation we will have no further comment.

David M. MacFarland

Large Carnivore Specialist

Bureau of Wildlife Management

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Phone: (715) 365-8917

david.macfarland@wisconsin.gov

dnr.wi.gov

I want to be very clear here that my commentary on the NRA American Hunter article had nothing to do with our men and woman serving in the armed forces. I have respect for them. The NRA American Hunter Magazine article is about promoting guns and fear of wolves which is what I am debating here. ~Rachel

*We reached out to Mathew Nellessen, who has declined an interview with us.

I offered an interview and you spun it to better your agenda. You deleted my comments! I am clear by the federal government. Never faced any charges and Confirmed wolf attack. U.S Fish and Wildlife Special Agent in charge of the case confirmed the entire incident. You will read it soon or hear it on the radio. You could have interviewed me. I came to you willing to buy you and your son dinner to have the chance to speak to the one you wrote so poorly about. I have all the proof recorded and documented. So maybe you should stop blocking MY free speech and allow what you preach. I still don’t care about the wolf hunting season, never had any desire to hunt such an amazing animal, and I still want to see wolves thrive. I care about my free speech that I swore an oath to defend. Yes I will make ALL documentation public on my behalf to save my name and stop the threats to my safety. This is my final shout out to you PUBLICLY. We can work together or work apart. Understand that I am on your side and want to see wolves live unharmed but we can not undermine there true nature. They do attack and they don’t know what prey to steer clear of. People need to understand that there is a threat from wolves just like turkeys in spring or deer during the rut. It is nature and we all have to understand the cycle of all beings to coexist. In no way am I demonizing wolves, I believe they are a very pure link in the ecosystem. The wolves provide from ants to us if you think about it. Even the soil benefits from wolves. Wolves are a key link to keep other animal numbers in check naturally. They are the apex predator god willed to this continent to keep the cycle of life in check. Still, I did defend myself from 3 wolves. It’s nature. They for whatever reason attacked me. If I died on that ridge there would be a witch hunt on wolves the next day. I am glad I survived. It is my human instinct to survive. It is the cycle of life. In a way I protected the wolves. They are still protected and people are now warned to stay clear of certain areas. Again, if I died by those three wolves, The wolves would have been destroyed the next day. My agenda is very clear. I don’t want wolves to be killed off but, after what I experienced I don’t wish that on any of my worst enemies. It was truly terrifying. I thought that I was dead the second the first wolf was attacking. The wolves have there place and it’s not with people. Again I say… The wolves need there space and people should not be in there dwellings. Warning signs or known wolf areas would be a start. This is an idea to allow both humans and wolves to exist without confrontation. Regardless the attack did happen and I sill believe that wolves are wonderful and NEEDED. Yes I have this comment documented because I believe I can do more for the wolves by speaking out about my experience rather then me being bashed or spoken poorly of. If you truly care about wolves or wildlife like I do you wont remove this comment. If you truly believe in free speech you wont remove this comment. If you truly support the troops and veterans you wont remove this comment. If you truly care about someones safety you wont remove this comment. If you really do care about wolves or nature you wouldn’t remove this comment. Again I am documenting every last word of our interaction for my safety and future reference. Please I want to work with you and not work against each other. Understand that my name and my safety are on the line here. I’m trying to bridge the gap to help the wolves and hopefully gain a friend. I am the one getting death threats because of your article. You simple wrote it. I have to live it.

I offered you an interview. This meant asking you questions and you reply to the questions. I did remove your comments and was willing to do an interview. I emailed my response to you and you said you did not want any further communication. But you sent a comment today, and I am responding to that comment.

I based my blog on the NRA article and stand by my comments. The NRA article read like a gun commercial. I asked pertinent questions and wanted answers.

I am certainly not naive about wolves spending over a dozen years monitoring them as a DNR volunteer tracker. I have been around wild wolves without incident.

Your clothing was not torn and no bites marks. Since wolves cannot answer questions one can only speculate as to what happened the day you were in the woods. And why they felt the need to defend themselves.

I’m sure these wolves will face the ultimate price for that encounter with you.

I am not responsible for any threats made towards you and do not approve of anyone making threats of violence towards you.

It was proven that the wolf attack you refer to was from a young wolf with a deformed jaw. They suspect the wolf was injured by a wolf Hunter. It’s been proven over and over that wolf attacks on humans are very, very rare.
Rachel

Published by Rachel Tilseth

Rachel holds a Batchelor of Science Degree in Art Education and is a retired art teacher. Tilseth is a freelance writer and journalist. Tilseth’s interests in nature, specifically wolves, led her to advocate for wolves and wildlife. In the year 2000 she became involved in WI DNR Wolf Recovery Program working as a volunteer winter wolf tracker to present. She founded the blog and social media network Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin to bring education and awareness to Wisconsin’s wild wolf. Tilseth has spent several years speaking out against wolf trophy hunts. Tilseth is active in working to ban Wolf Hounding in Wisconsin. She has a strong background in the visual arts. She’s a sculptor and oil painter. Tilseth has expanded her interest into filmmaking. She’s currently in the process of creating a documentary film about the heart of wolf advocacy.
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